Unitary Plan appeal by Forest & Bird
New Zealand’s leading conservation organisation has appealed the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan to the High Court.
Forest & Bird’s appeal is one of 100 submitted by the September 16 deadline.
North Shore branch chairman Richard Hursthouse says the North Shore’s Shoal Bay, Lucas Creek and Okura Estuary could be threatened if the appeal is not successful
Auckland needs strong environmental protection alongside future development plans, Hursthouse says.
‘‘There are huge pressures on the natural environment. We need all the backing we can get.’’
Solicitors for Forest & Bird says the unitary plan is ‘‘unlawful’’, because it fails to identify significant ecological areas (SEAs), and that does not adhere to the Resource Management Act (RMA). The appeal references the criteria by which SEAs are identified, both on land and marine areas, and the policies that will protect them. SEAs are identified by a certain criteria and then are mapped in a district plan, acquiring protection.
Solicitor Sally Gepp says, under the proposed unitary plan, ecologically important land areas are not being mapped as SEAs, because of their development potential.
‘‘All the significant ecological areas in Auckland are required to be protected. The first step is to map them, so we know where they are and what they contain,’’ Gepp says.
‘‘After they are identified, then the Council can make a judgment call about the extent of development that should be allowed, and on what conditions. Such as avoiding the most important areas, or replanting areas that get destroyed.’’
Marine SEAs identification is also being appealed, as, according to the proposed plan the criteria for SEAs will not be met if marine areas are ‘‘human modified’’.
Gepp says ‘‘arguably’’ almost all marine areas have been modified in some way, such as for personal boat docks or mangrove removals.
Auckland Council is unable to comment on these matters while matters under appeal are subject to a judicial process.
Plans and places manager John Duguid says rules under appeal will remain legacy district plan rules until a decision is made.